one.

We have been here for exactly one week. Seven days. I realize new after typing all of that, it makes it sound like a survival post. "Day 5... Somehow I've survived...."  But a small part of me, actually feels that way. Remember last post how we got lost the second day?? Yep so that happened... again.... and again..... and again.... and again. Four times. EVERY DAY! We didn't get lost Sunday on our way to church so like that was swell! (that's a sign isn't it.... #thechurchistrue) Anyway, even though we got lost everyday, that didn't stop us from having an amazing time!

The Colosseum.... It's stunning. Beyond words. 

On one of our Rome adventures Sarah, Crystal, Chan and I were trying to get o Eatly. It's like IKEA but for food. It is kind of far away, but people kept telling us we had to go there cause it is amazing. So we decided to spend our Friday night and go to this hopping place and eat delicious Italian food. It took us an hour to get there.... mostly because we got lost and wandered the city forever... FOR-EH-VER..... FOR-EH-VER. But enough of that. After walking around trying to get Google Maps to cooperate with us and give us simple instructions we ended up ditching that idea and decided to ask a local.... Only problem with that is none of us speak fluent Italian... so next goal--find someone who speaks English. But who can you tell if they speak English? You can awkwardly stand near them and see if they start speaking English, but then you look like 4 nosey teens trying to eaves drop on their conversation. UGH! Finally luck was on our side, we found a very kind lady and she gave us simple instructions to Eatly and off we were! Now.... once inside the restaurant was another struggle... I mean none of us are fluent, we tried to pick it up on the 10 minute train ride over, but sadly we couldn't retain everything. Shocking isn't it?! But imagine, an IKEA... but for food. Mind boggling, right?!  Every floor was something different. Fish, Meat, Cheese & Bread, Gelato, and Pasta! Everything. But we found the pasta and pizza restaurant and it was perfect! (I really regret not taking a picture, but next time I go... Just wait.) We made fools of ourselves as we ordered the food just like classic tourists trying to say the Italian words and gesture to our menus. The waitress thought we were idiots... No doubt we felt like idiots too. So we can agree with her on that. We ordered our gelato after paying for our dinner and we off like a dirty shirt. Now getting home.... If you can't tell by now... Technology wasn't on our side. But we finally got it to work for about 10 minutes. We found our bus stop and waited for what seems like forever. What do three American girls do to make time pass while waiting for a bus that seemed like it was never going to show... sing Broadway showtunes! Duh. No brainer! We sang Wicked and Legally Blonde, and we wouldn't have it any other way! It was quite the entertaining evening.

This week was filled with the whole shabang. Stress, saddness, beauty, and love. I continue to fall more and more in love with the city. I miss my family and friends but having the ability to talk to them whenever I have wifi is the best, I don't know what I would do without them! Shout out to my faves, you know who you are! #blessed. On Monday, Chan and I were also able to go see the one and only... ED SHEERAN. He is one of the best performers I have ever seen live. Like.... perfection. Also his opener was Ryan Keen! If you have a chance go look him up! Amazing too. Ed knows how to pick 'em.

After the concert Chan and I assumed there would be taxis waiting outside the arena like in the States... Nope! There are none! So with no phones, no wifi (our hotspot wasn't working... shocking isn't it?!) and no clue how to get home. Panic began to settle in... How on earth are we supposed to get home!? We wandered around and in some broken Italian that I remember from last semester I asked about taxis-- everyone's answer was to call them! Well poo, we don't have a phone, but thanks though. But wonder of wonder and miracle of miracles, there was a bus that was taking us to Piazza Venezia. We did it. We made it home to our warm beds and all was well. All in all this week was good, challenging but good! School has started and is going to be... different! Here's to getting back into routines and for making it one week abroad. Yay!   

Dang it feels good to be a gansta

Chillin out, maxin, ralaxin all cool

Until next time,

-O